Apple's run into more problems in China. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A number of Chinese companies are reportedly boycotting Apple as a show of support for Huawei Technologies.
The Chinese Huawei brand overtook Apple in smartphone shipments this year. Recently, its chief financial officer was arrested in Canada for allegedly violating U.S. sanctions by doing business in Iran.
Treat yourself to a new iPhone battery this holidays. Photo: iFixit
Amidst all the holiday festivities, don’t forget that Apple’s $29 battery replacement offering is coming to an end one week from now.
The special offer was announced by Apple as an apology this time last year. It followed stories about the company intentionally slowing down older iPhones. One year on, Apple has taken steps to fix the problem. But you’ve only got until next Monday to take advantage of your cheap battery replacement.
Apple sure fired up the chattering classes in 2018. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Few brands stir the passions like Apple. Be it a rumor, stock speculation, a glowing gadget review or a president’s bombastic tweet, Apple, its devices and the people who make them always seem to be part of a conversation.
So to curate the best quotes about Apple for 2018 is as daunting as choosing your favorite word in the dictionary. There are so many — and best is a matter of taste. How do you pick?
Bag a MacBook Pro today and save up to $800! Photo: Apple
It might be too late to order gifts in time for Christmas, but it’s certainly not too late to take advantage of some stellar holiday savings — like up to $800 off the MacBook Pro at Best Buy.
That’s just one of the awesome offers in today’s Deals & Steals roundup. We also have up to $175 off the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, $40 off the brand new 11-inch iPad Pro, $55 off urBeats 3 headphones, and more!
According to a new report, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu is set to meet with Apple execs at next month’s Davos conference to talk manufacturing.
Apple may have cut 4 million iPhone orders. Photo: Apple
According to Rosenblatt analyst Jun Zhang, Apple could further cut iPhone production by an additional 4 million units in the March quarter of 2019. Zhang claims that this will predominantly affect the iPhone XR.
Christmas time means packing up your daily troubles, forgetting work for a week, and heading home to … troubleshoot your parents’ broken computers and gadgets? Oh man, is it that time of year again already?
That’s the problem with being the family’s only geek — you get handed all the geek jobs. However, you can turn this to your advantage, and make it a lot easier, by going in prepared. Check out our Holiday Troubleshooting Guide right here.
Apple is appealing the court's decision. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple will be barred from selling certain iPhone models in Germany, after a court ruled that Apple was infringing on a Qualcomm patent. While the ban isn’t immediate, provided that Apple appeals it, Apple has said that it will stop selling the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 in Apple Stores until the matter is resolved.
Waterproofing has helped the iPhone a lot. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
An iPhone user reportedly had her life saved after using her iPhone to call the coast guard after her ship capsized in rough waters. The woman, named Rachel Neal, was visiting Japan at the time, when she and her friends chartered a boat off the coast of Okinawa.
When the group wound up in the water, concerned about their safety, Neal’s waterproof iPhone allowed her to call for help. They were rescued 90 minutes later.
Apple has made a change to iOS to try and ward off a legal challenge in Germany. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
China isn’t the only place where Apple is trying to ward off a possible legal challenge from Qualcomm. According to a new report, it has introduced a change to iOS that affects only users in Germany.
It comes before a hearing, scheduled for later today, in which a German court will hear that Apple allegedly violated Qualcomm’s patents.
Some of these Apple numbers are just huge. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
2018 has been one of the best years ever for Apple. Looking at some of the company’s most popular metric shows that the numbers are up across the board (stock price excepted).
Never before have there been more developers making more money off iOS while Apple extends its ever-growing reach. Revenue hit an all-time high. And the next big thing feels like it’s just on the horizon.
There's a new beta out for iPhone. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple has busted out one more beta update for developers to play with before the end of 2018 with the first build of iOS 12.1.3.
The new iOS 12.1.3 beta 1 update comes just days after Apple released iOS 12.1.2 to the public as a way to fix patent claims by Qualcomm in China. Along with the new iOS beta, there are also new beta updates for macOS Mojave and tvOS.
Japan Display could get thrown a lifeline. Photo: Apple
Chinese electronic parts maker O-Film Tech could bail out the struggling Japan Display, a new report reveals. Both companies are listed on Apple’s 2018 Supplier List.
O-Film reportedly wants to buy a 33 percent stake in Japan Display, which provides Apple with LCD displays. Japan Display has been having major problems for some time. This year alone, its stock has fallen 80 percent.
Yet another analyst thinks iPhone sales are going to struggle in 2019. Photo: Apple
Jefferies analyst Timothy O’Shea has added his name to the growing number of Apple watchers concerned about iPhone demand. His message? That Wall Street estimates remain too high, and that Apple’s situation, “could get worse before it gets better.”
Samsung has been getting a lot stick lately for posting tweets from an iPhone, but it turns out it’s not the only company that sometimes uses a competitor’s devices. Apple is guilty of it, too.
The official Apple Music account recently published a tweet using an Android device.
Siri proved useful in helping a boy in England call for help. Photo: Apple
A 4-year-old boy in England used Siri to call for help after his pregnant mom collapsed, according to reports.
Beau Austin, who reportedly loved talking to digital assistants on devices, called out to Siri on his mother’s iPhone to dial 999. He then told the operator “my mummy’s sick,” adding they were alone.
The design of Apple's original Smart Case was heavily criticized. Photo: Apple
The much-maligned Smart Battery case for the iPhone looks like it will be making a return — only this time for the iPhone XS and XS Max.
In leaked images found in a merchandise guide for Apple retailers, the distinctive “hump” found in the Smart Battery cases can be clearly seen. The document is titled “Fall 2018,” suggesting that the cases may be available in the next few weeks, although there’s a chance they will only appear in early 2019.
Qualcomm thinks Apple is violating a court order by continuing to sell iPhones. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple and Qualcomm have found yet another thing to disagree over in their long-running feud. A court in China recently issued an order banning Apple from selling several older iPhone models. Apple subsequently released an iOS update which it claims stopped it infringing on the software patents in the complaint.
However, Qualcomm is not satisfied, and insists that Apple is breaking the law by keeping all of its iPhone models on sale.
It was a busy year in Cupertino. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
2018 was a rollercoaster year for Apple — with incredible highs, massive dips, and probably an executive or two throwing up along the way.
Apple became the first $1 trillion public company in U.S. history, unleashed some amazing new products, and pulled in record amounts of cash. But it also faced lows, from the iPhone-throttling controversy to a tanking stock price at the end of the year.
One thing that can’t be said, however, is that this was an uneventful 12 months for Cupertino. Here’s a recap of some of the year’s most memorable Apple moments.
Apple is accused of hiding valuable pixels under its notch. Photo: Apple
The “notch” on Apple’s iPhone X, XS and XS Max devices is causing more problems — and this time could even land Apple in court.
A new lawsuit filed against Apple late last week alleges that Apple has lied about the display specifications in its newer iPhones. How? By including pixels and screen dimensions hidden beneath the notch and corners. As a result, Apple’s new iPhones don’t boast quite as much screen as they’re advertised as having.
The iPhone was the only one of the tested smartphones which passed the test. Screenshot: Forbes
When Apple first introduced Face ID with the iPhone X, many were concerned that facial recognition would make it easier to hack into phones.
Fortunately, Apple’s approach to Face ID has largely allayed people’s fears. But just how secure is the facial recognition biometric technology adopted by Apple and its rivals? A Forbes reporter (and his 3D printed head model) recently demonstrated just how the iPhone stacks up against Android rivals.
Japan Display has lost 80 percent of its value this year. Photo: Apple
Just a few years back, Japan Display was talking about building a $1.4 billion factory to create iPhone displays for Apple. Jump forward to 2018 and the company is having to reimagine its future for a world in which smartphone growth isn’t guaranteed.
According to a new report, Japan Display has responded by focusing on smart sensors. Compared to one year ago, the firm has shifted one-third of its research staff to sensor development. These would be focused on everything from sleep tracking to assorted healthcare applications.
Apple says an iPhone ban would force a settlement with Qualcomm. Photo: Qualcomm
Apple is rushing to release an iOS update in China to resolve potential infringement of Qualcomm patents. The news follows a report stating that a Chinese sales ban of certain iPhone models would cost Apple millions of dollars a day.
“Early next week we will deliver a software update for iPhone users in China addressing the minor functionality of the two patents at issue in the case,” Apple said in a statement.
Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow in the show Alias Photo: ABC
Jennifer Garner and J.J. Abrams are finally getting back together to create an all-new TV show.
The duo rose to stardom in the early 2000s with Abram’s TV show Alias that starred Garner as a double agent for the Central Intelligence Agency. Now they’re set to make a TV show for Apple, only it won’t be quite as action-packed as their last endeavor together.